St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1887-11-03

rose up and, sweeping her eyes over the
magnificent apartment, said bitterly:
mo, no; cannot do without them!'
She assembled to her chamber, where
her maid was awaiting her coming. She
YEARLY submitted herself to her skillful
hands, and, having substituted morn
ing wrapper for the party robes. she
into an easy chair which stood before
the fire. She folded her white, jeweled
hands in her lap and thought over the
events OF the past few years.
what vain, prOfitlesS life l have
livedn' she murmured regretfully.
'WhO has been benefited by it? Not
even myself. And with the abundant
means | have wasted how much might
have done! Have l, indeed, been hap
pier than l was when l sat in my little
chamber, the only ornaments / pos
sessed white rose for my hair and my
mothers Old-fashioned wedding ring for
my finger"
And with her mothers memory came
back tenderness, SOftneSS to the
heart of Mabel HOlbeck which had not
visited it for years.
at is not too late to retrieve myself,
and Wills she added resolutely. II
cannot recall the past, but l can at least
prove to my husband that am not dead
to all sense of honor or shame"
Mabel descended to the breakfast
room different person. The elements
of true wOmanhOOd had so long slum-
bered in her breast that only the rudest
shock could have aroused them. With
their awakening came the conviction
of her unwOrthinesS and a determine
ton to regain the esteem she had lost.
Col. Holbeck was not present at the
n mt rxrho s%n1
upon him he said: "EXcuse me to your
mistress, and bring me a cup of coffee.
/ wish nothing else"
~ will carry it to him myself" said |
Mabel, when she received the message;
and few moments later she entered |
the library where he was sitting. "Can |
l not assist yOu?" she said, softly, as
she deposited the unique silver break |
fast service at his side.
He had not noticed her presence be-
fore. He glanced hastily into her face |
and the tears stood in his eyes.
II do not know whether you can or
not" he replied, almost wildly. my
brain is in whirl. These papers,
pointing to the heaps upon his either
hand-'''represent all that possessed. |
my conviction, after thorough investi- |
cation, is that we are almost beggarSr"
You must rest now, at any rate" she |
said, gently; land when you have drank |
your coffee we will talk our misfortune |
Over.'
Whilst he partook of his breakfast she |
buised herself in arranging the disOr- |
dered apartment. She turned off the I
gas, which still burned brilliantly, and |
throwing aside the heavy curtains adj |
mitted the sunlight into the room.
Not until then did she observe the |
change that had taken place in her hus- |
bands appearance. He was worn and |
haggard, and his whole frame trembled |
as with an ague. Mabel sat down near |
him, and leaning her arms upon the |
table, looked into his face.
You are too easily discouraged" she |
exclaimed with emotion.
Il comprehend our situation much |
more fully than you dO,' he replied,
gloomily.
''Of the business details l am, of |
course, Ignorant" she answered; ''but |
they do not alter nor affect the fact |
which so intimately concerns u.s."
''YOu realize it all, then, and yet your
heart is not brOken?' he gasped, rather |
than asked.
''You refer to conversation that !
passed between us years ago." she in
quired, the red flush mantling her |
cheek and the tears gathering in her
eyes.
Eyes, you told me that you would not
care to live if bereft of society and |
wealth! That remembrance has been
the bitterest drop in this bitter, bitter |
cup"
Forget it!'' she exclaimed, passion
ately. Forget that was ever so un-
so ungrateful! Our married |
life so far has proven failure, but there |
is time enough to redeem it,"
Col. HOlbeck could scarcely believe |
that he had heard Alright.
you are not testing with me,
Indeed, indeed 1 am mott" she ex-
earnestly. although l have
proved recreant to the trust you once
reposed in me, am wOrthier to-day to
bridal morning. If you will only es-
TEEN me again as you once did you shall
never have cause to regret it,"
Col. HOlbeck gathered her to his heart
and pressed his lips to her forehead.
There were but few thousands left
of all the cOlOnefs vast estates, but that
was enough to enable them to live in
ease and retirement, and Mabel was |
only too pleased to show by her future
conduct that, after all, she was not so
heartless and selfish as she had pre-
tended or even imagined.
A lucky speculation on the stock ex-
change one day made the colonel richer
than ever: but Mabel insisted on their
still residing in the country and devot-
ing her leisure hours to doing good to
the poorer community around her. To
the INDECENT she was known as "The
Angel of Charity" and her husband
often and often declared she was indeed
1.-THE Old Mans Darling"
Wants to be Man.